Ijaazat (Permission) - an Incomplete Story (contd.)

My story takes place on hot summer evening. It was a holiday or a Sunday. I really can’t remember that. U know it was so long ago. Oh! By the way let me introduce myself. I’m Aditya Roy, 35, presently working in an MNC. Or should I say was. Because you see I gave in my resignation a week back and they haven’t got back to me to yet. So really, I don’t know my status – employed or unemployed. The only thing that I can say is that right now I am nestled in a cottage in the Himalayas, far away from the rush of a city and just close enough to civilization to satisfy my basic needs. In fact, if right now you are wondering as to what my present has to do with that fateful summer evening, the truth is - everything. You see it was on that evening that a major chapter of life finished. A part of me died. Though I never realized it until it was too late.

My wife’s name was Sulakshana. A pretty name and very Bengali. But then, I knew her since my college days. I was a student of English (Hons.) in a Calcutta college. She was a year junior to me, in the department of History. We met during the rehearsals of a college play for some inter-college fest. It was in the year 1997. We hit off immediately. Life was then full of vision, full of eagerness. And it all seemed possible because one of the most perfect ladies ever created by the God Almighty was with me. Our relation blossomed and finally we married, when I was 26. Life seemed to be very pleased with me then. I started getting plum projects for my firm. I performed beyond expectations; my success egged me on towards new challenges. I excelled. It was all too good last. I had everything in life that a man could want. I had a successful career, a wonderful social status, a beautiful and loving wife. Things were perfect or so it seemed to me then.

By this time 4 blissful years of marriage had already passed by. On that fateful evening I was reading a newspaper as was my habit. Then came a phone call for my wife. It was from someone I didn’t know. Maybe someone from the college days. I dismissed the matter from my mind. A few minutes later she announced that she had to go out. I agreed and was about to get ready to drop her off, when she told me that she would like to go on her own. I was surprised. This was a definite deviation from her predictable behavior. Usually when I was home I used to chauffeur her around, which I must say wasn’t very often. It was quite obvious that whatever the reason it must be due that call. “The Call”. She left in her car. Unable to bear the tension I decided to tail her. That was the first mistake I should have trusted her. I didn’t!! I still don’t know why? But I didn’t.

This is where I lost track.... Any ideas??